Love CanalSaturday, November 7
State says no to a new Love Canal investigation while a Niagara Falls school awaits radiation checks
The Daily Buffalo team
The state has turned down a new investigation of the neighborhoods around Love Canal. On Wednesday, the DEC declined a petition from the McKiernan family to refer their case to the EPA and expand the probe to surrounding streets. The family found industrial waste buried in their backyard on 99th Street.
About 300 feetfrom Love Canal to the McKiernans' 99th Street home
The DEC has not confirmed where the waste or the chemicals in their soil tests came from.
Source: WIVB News 4
Friday added a school to the story. Jocelyn McKiernan says a security guard escorted her out of the Catholic Academy of Niagara Falls after she tried to meet principal Johanna Richards about radiation findings. State and federal officials earlier confirmed elevated radiation levels in the school's parking lot.
“We are now being met with closed doors, no transparency and sheer rudeness.”
- DEC: plans more testing at the McKiernans' property
- State officials: no evidence the family is at risk
- Principal Richards: no known health risk to the school community
Agencies are expected back at the school next week
- Nov. 4DEC declines the McKiernans' petition to refer the case to the EPA.
- Nov. 5News 4 interviews McKiernan outside the school, where she asks for transparency.
- Nov. 6McKiernan says a security guard escorted her out of the school.
- Next weekEPA and DEC are expected to conduct more assessments of the school property.
Source: WIVB News 4
Sources: Buffalo News, WIVB News 4